Thome hits No. 499 as Sox beat Cleveland 7-4
As it turns out, good things can happen to bad teams. Good things like Jim Thome.
As the White Sox played out the string on Wednesday at sun-drenched U.S. Cellular Field, Thome continued his feel-good run toward 500 career home runs.
Leading off the fourth inning, the 37-year-old designated hitter turned on a 2-0 fastball from Jake Westbrook and drilled it down the right-field line and over the fence, upping his career total to 499.
"It was hit pretty good,'' Thome said after the Sox avoided a three-game sweep with a 7-4 win over the Indians.
If he hits one more pretty good, Thome will become the 23rd player in major-league history to reach the 500 plateau. While the classy slugger would rather be in first place than last, he is enjoying the moment.
"Awesome,'' Thome said. "When I hit it today, my little girl was (in the stands) and I got to see her reaction. And my wife, my dad, sister ... the great thing about baseball is it kind of brings your family together. You come together as teammates and as family.''
The Sox are off today before opening a three-game home series against the Angels on Friday. Thome and the White Sox are hoping No. 500 comes on familiar turf.
"I really wanted him to do it today,'' said Sox starter Javier Vazquez, who got the win Wednesday. "Hopefully, he does it quickly.''
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen hopes the crowds are big this weekend.
"Hopefully, people come out and root for him,'' Guillen said. "Only a few people hit 500 home runs. Now he has a good chance to do it here in Chicago. It's always nice to see something like that, especially with the way we're going.
"I think it's something to look forward to. It's nice, because not many guys in the clubhouse have seen a milestone like that.''
Thome wants his 500th home run ball to go to the Hall of Fame, and he'll announce a "prize package'' he's willing to give to the fan that winds up catching it before Friday's game against the Angels.
"It'll be neat,'' said Thome, who has 27 home runs for the season. "It'll be fun for the fan. We've come up with some cool ideas.''
After hitting No. 499, Thome followed with a 2-run single in the fifth inning. He also singled in the seventh.
Vazquez, the Sox' most consistent starter this season, settled down after laboring through the first the innings. Vazquez struck out six Cleveland hitters in a row at one point and wound up allowing 1 earned run on 6 hits over 6/8 innings.
"In the first two innings, I threw a lot of pitches,'' Vazquez said. "After that, I was being more aggressive and I did my job.''
Now it's up to Thome to finish the job of hitting his 500th home run.
"Hitting home runs is not an easy thing to do, especially when people want you to do it and you're trying to do it,'' Thome said. "And ultimately, winning games is your first priority. But it's been a neat thing.''
White Sox 7, Indians 4
At the plate: Jim Thome hit his 499th career home run, a solo shot off Jake Westbrook leading off the fourth inning. He also added a 2-run single in the fifth. Juan Uribe also homered, his third in the last two games.
On the mound: Starter Javier Vazquez earned the win after pitching 6/8 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits. Bobby Jenks allowed 1 run on 2 hits in the ninth.
- Scot Gregor